There's no gain saying that Kwara State is among the leading Agricultural States in this country especially in the aspects of food security and employment through Agriculture.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, headed by Mr. Olabode Olayemi is leaving no stone unturned in making Agriculture the fulcrum of the State's economic development.

The government is not only politically inclined but aimed at exploring the great potentials of fish farming and increasing the knowledge and skills of the people.

Kwara State is blessed with a lot of large expanse of land with good water supply, clay soil and good topography that is suitable for production of fish farming.

With the objective to make household fish, fish farming production increases opportunities, promotes job and income generation that can help in sustainable livelihood.

Fish is important as it is the cheapest and sustainable source of animal protein to many household. Considering the fact that fatty acids help in reducing many forms of cancer disease that is most dreadful among Nigerians.

Study shows that healthy consumption of fish promotes healthy brain tissue and reduces the risk of heart disease through the reduction of probability of clot formation, lowering blood pressure and reducing the cholersterol levels in the blood stream.

It is edible, used for medicinal and ornamental purposes; the extractable oil is useful in the production of margarine and soap to mention a few.

Nigerians are high fish consumers as the demand for fish increases rapidly due to human population and with the current demand of 2.66million metric tons/annum.

While local production is only 0.78million metric tons, Nigeria therefore needs about 1.8million metric tons to augment the shortfall.

However, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, put fish import bill at N100 billion in the year 2010.

This is a huge amount that has called for the need to strategize investment in fish farming which is believed to be way forward for fishery development in Nigeria.

Kwara State policy on fisheries is to increase fish production and improve the quality of fish food produce for local consumption and export.

With all these programmes in place, the fish production in Kwara State has increased from 30,000 metric tons per annual in 2003 to about 120,000 metric tons in 2011.

The potential yield of Nigerian aquaculture has been estimated at over four million tons annually which could conveniently meet the national demand of 2.66million metric tons and generate considerable export earnings.

There is global recognition of the importance of Fisheries to human nutrition and the nation's economy. There is every need to raise the awareness on how fish can contribute to employment, income, health and food security of both rural and urban dwellers in the state.

The increase in national fish production would not only diversify the country's resource base, but also complement efforts aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

In its bid to reduce poverty, job creation for the teeming youths in the state. His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has mandated the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to work out programmes for the achievement of policy of the state on fisheries production to accommodate youth participation.

Kwara State government policies on fisheries are:

*To increase fish production and improve the quality of fish produce for local consumption and for export.

*To increase fish production as well as protein intake by transferring of modern techniques to fishermen and fish farmers in the state.

* To ensure rational and effective exploitation of fisheries resources, to raise per capital income as well as the socio-economic status of fishermen and fish farmers.

* To enhance fish processing, preservation and marketing through the introduction of modern technologies.

* To achieve the policies mentioned above, the Ministry has put in place numbers of programme which include:

* Training of the fishermen and fish farmers on improved techniques in fisheries production, fish pond construction and management.

* Annual training and empowerment of unemployed youths in all aspects of fish farming at the Government Fish Farm complex, Ilorin.

* Capture fisheries unit and train fishermen in the area of fishing in our water bodies.

* Fish processing unit trains women fish processors to improve fish processing techniques in order to increase shelf life of processed fish at fish processing centre, Jebba.

Some of the achievements recorded so far include;

* Training of over 400 youths in all aspects of fish farming throughout the state.

* Empowerment of the trained youth through the provision of soft loans from the commercial banks, FGN/CBN Loans to establish their individual fish farms.

* The programme has multiplier effect as the trained youths replicate the knowledge acquired to other unemployed youths in their domain.

* In the government input subsidy scheme, Kwara State government procured fish input such as nets, fiber glass canoes, outboard engines, fishing boats, fish hooks, twines, fish feeds, water pump/tanks, pelletizing machine, smoking klins and many others for distribution to fish farmers and fishermen at subsidized rate of 50% on annual basis in the last 7years.

* Provision of extension services by the Ministry to the farmers on their farm to help them to solve problems and challenges on their farm management.

*The Federal government in partnership with State government has constructed ultra modern fish markets in some local government areas of the State; the local governments include Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Asa and Moro at the total cost of N13.7million.

* To boost fish farming in the state, the Federal government has constructed a fish processing center at Jebba, Moro local government area at the cost of N23.5 Million for fish processing and smoking.

* Training and re training of the fish farmers and fishermen in the state to acquaint them with  modern and improved techniques in fishery production.

This no doubt this is as a result of determination of the government of Kwara State to increase and improve fish production through a focus policy and programme that would have a direct impact on the citizens of the state as well as creating enabling environment to create more job opportunity and increase earnings on sustainable level.

Olorunnisola is Press Secretary, MANR